Follow UsRavichandran Ashwin might have retired from international cricket, but he isn’t afraid to give his opinion on the internet. Ahead of the five-match Test series against England, Ashwin’s statement sparked a conversation on the internet.
The 38-year-old off-spinner stated that the recently retired Indian batter, Virat Kohli, isn’t ‘greater than the game’, which triggered the entire fan base.
"I do not think anybody who has played the game, or will play the game, is higher than the game itself. Nobody who walks the park does good for the game - the game does good or bad by them. I love Virat, but he has come, played the game, left the game, left it at a great place. It is for someone else to take it forward,” Ashwin told RevSportz.
In Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s absence, India had to take a bold decision on the future captain, and they did by appointing the 24-year-old Shubman Gill. Ashwin insisted that Gill has already been ‘overwhelmed’ by the attention and responsibility, reckoning that only a good start can keep Gill steadfast.
"I think Gill is already too overwhelmed by the attention and responsibility he has got. If I was in his place with such a high-pressure job, I would want to have a very good start as a batsman," Ashwin added.
"As a batter, he will have his share of questions on his place, as England can be a very tough place to bat. But if he makes runs, runs will give confidence and that would in turn rub on to captaincy," he said.
Thus far, the expectations are such that India will only feature one spinner, in the form of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. However, Ashwin has gone slightly differently, opining that Kuldeep Yadav would be a ‘certainty’ for the Men in Blue.
"When batsmen come through, the best bowling attack will win you matches. If they don't leave moisture on the pitch, then I think Kuldeep Yadav would be a certainty. And if there is moisture on the pitch, then Kuldeep should still be there," Ashwin said.
Ashwin also hailed 31-year-old Mohammed Siraj, calling him a ‘workhorse’, and stating that he will be an absolute certainty for India in England.
"Jasprit Bumrah should be No. 1, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who offers control and can bat in the top five or six. This bowling attack can dismiss any batting lineup in any conditions. Not to forget [Mohammed] Siraj, who is like a warhorse."